The Certificate of Graduate Study in Health Communication is an interdisciplinary certificate administered by the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior; the School of Journalism and Mass Communications; and the School of Library and Information Science.  This is an 18-hour post-bachelor's program which provides students with opportunities to strengthen their knowledge in health communication content, research methods, and application. Students will select Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior; Journalism and Mass Communications; or Library and Information Science as an interest area. 

An applicant for admission to the Certificate of Graduate Study in Health Communication will be evaluated on a combination of factors: undergraduate grades; performance on the GRE; resume describing previous professional experience, especially if that experience is in health communication-related positions; three letters of recommendation; and a written statement of intent, in which the applicant outlines reasons for seeking a graduate-level Certificate in Health Communication.  Qualified individuals who are not currently enrolled in a graduate degree can also take the certificate as a stand-alone program.

Please visit the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior website for application procedures.

The program consists of 18 graduate credit hours (a total of six three-credit hour courses).  To earn the certificate, students must complete: 

1. The certificate core (9 hours)

HPEB      711          Applied Health Communication

SLIS        749          Health Sciences Information Resources

JOUR      702          Communication Theory or

JOUR      803          Seminar in Mass Communication Theory and Theory Construction

2. Six (6) directed elective hours from an approved list, depending on the student's interests as approved by the student's faculty advisor.

 3. A 3 credit-hour practicum or project in the student’s home department.

Examples of practicum/internships include appointments with local agencies involved with health communication, or work on an active research project. Faculty members work closely with students to help them secure the practicum.